Mamelodi Sundowns forward Khama Billiat looks set to be rested for Zimbabwe’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Guinea early next month
Coach Calisto Pasuwa’s team secured the automatic qualification ticket for Group L with one round of qualifiers to spare and are already looking ahead to the January finals in Gabon.
Billiat was one of the key architects of Zimbabwe’s first successful Afcon campaign in a decade, but he has barely enjoyed an off-season as his Sundowns side are also involved in the Caf Champions League.
Wary of the effect of burnout on one of his star players ahead of the Afcon finals, Pasuwa is seriously considering resting Billiat for what is effectively a dead rubber in Conakry.
“I would say the issue of Khama Billiat is something we are seriously looking at,” Pasuwa told The Herald Daily on Tuesday.
“He has not had any rest to talk about, as you know that Mamelodi Sundowns were reinstated in the Caf Champions League and while other teams were resting they were playing in the mini-league. Now it would be too much to ask of him to make the long trip to Guinea again just as the Premiership season is starting in South Africa.”
Billiat had a terrific season in the Absa Premiership last term, playing a starring role in Sundowns successful title campaign and bagging the South African Player of the season accolade in the process.
An anticipated move to Europe has so far failed to materialise but Pasuwa is banking on a fit and in-form Billiat to complement Belgium-based Knowledge Musona in spearheading the Warriors quest for success at the Afcon finals.
“We all need Khama to be fresh and to give us his best whenever he plays and that time I had to start him on the bench against Swaziland at home. We need to continuously monitor these players and manage how we use them in order to get the best out of them,” Pasuwa said.
Pasuwa will have no shortage of options upfront for the Guinea tie in the absence of Billiat, with Evans Rusike, Mathew Rusike and Kuda Mahachi all looking to make an impression ahead of the Afcon finals.-Goal
